Board of Directors 2011
Gurchuran Singh Bhatia, CM (Past President)
Since his arrival in Canada in 1965, Judge Bhatia has worked to create a broader understanding of the universal values of non-violence, compassion and peace. In the 1980s, Judge Bhatia created networks amongst diverse communities and cultures in Canada through newspapers he founded, edited and published, notably the national publication Canadian Link. He was also instrumental in founding the Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace and the Multicultural Media Association.
Judge Bhatia has contributed significantly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Foreign Trade Committee, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council. During his tenure as a Western Director of the Canadian Human Rights Foundation, he organized a major conference on human rights in 1995. He was also chair of the 1998 International Conference on Human Rights: Universal Rights and Human Values and co-founder of the Human Rights Education Foundation, which later evolved into the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights. In 1977, he was recipient of the Order of Canada and in 1999, he received a Citation Award from the City of Edmonton for his contribution to multiculturalism and community service.
Judge Bhatia retired as Judge of the Citizenship Judge with the Court of Canadian Citizenship in 2005 after six years of service.
Lewis has spent most of his professional life in public service. As a communicator and educator, he has dedicated his work to creating and maintaining connections and relationships that cross cultural divides. His work has mirrored his personal vision of a socially-just and responsive society.
His long track record of public service includes his board involvement with Racism Free Edmonton, Aboriginal Commission on Human Rights and Justice, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Little Warriors, Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee, Bissell Centre Board of Governors, and of as national Chair the Aboriginal Voices Radio Network.
He recently received Canada’s highest Aboriginal recognition award the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Public Service, as well as receiving Distinguished Alumni Award for Grant MacEwan University and has also received the Alberta Centennial Medal for his work in Human Rights and Diversity. As well, Lewis is the owner of Cardinal Strategic Communications, specializing in Education and Communications.
Joan Cowling (Vice President)
Joan Cowling has worked extensively in the area of human resource management and development, both in the public and private sectors. Ms. Cowling served four terms (1980-1992) as Board Chairman and Trustee, Edmonton Public School Board. In 1991-1992, Ms. Cowling served as the President of the Canadian School Boards’ Association. As President of CSBA she was part of a committee that developed a model policy for Multiculturalism and Race Relations for school boards throughout Canada.
During her public tenure, Ms. Cowling has served in the following capacities: Provincial Executive, Alberta School Boards Association; Steering Committee Member, Economic Development Study, City of Edmonton; Board of Directors, Alberta Association for Multicultural and Intercultural Education; Board of Directors, Alberta School Employees’ Benefit Plan; Board of Directors, Edmonton Space Science Centre; Names Advisory Committee, City of Edmonton; and, Chairman, Museum/Archives Restoration Committee, McKay Avenue School.
Ms. Cowling continues to be an active member and facilitator of various civic, provincial and national committees and task forces dealing with intergovernmental relations, multicultural and race relations, collective bargaining and contract interpretations, organizational analysis and strategic planning.
Jennifer Fisk is the President of Freestone Integrated Communications Ltd., an integrated communications, public relations and marketing company serving a wide variety of corporate, non-profit and government clients across Alberta.
Prior to starting her own company in 2006, Jennifer was the Executive Director for Growing Alberta and prior to that, worked at the University of Alberta as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President, External Relations. Jennifer also spent six years as Regional Director, Prairies and Northwest Territories, for the Canadian Bankers Association. Jennifer graduated from the University of Alberta with a graduate and undergraduate degree from the Faculty of Arts in Political Science. She is also a member of the International Association of Business Communicators and is currently on the Board of Directors for Northlands. She also served for three years as Director for the Edmonton Downtown Farmer’s Market Association and acted as the Chair and Board Director for the non-profit, Credit Counseling Services of Alberta.
Gerald L Gall, OC (President)
Gerald Gall is a professor of Law at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. He is a barrister and solicitor in the province of Ontario and has served on several boards of directors including the Legal Education Society of Alberta. He was appointed an Honourary Member of the Management Board of the Centre for Constitutional Studies. He is a former Executive Director of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice and the author of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth editions of The Canadian Legal System, a highly acclaimed legal treatise.
As a distinguished teacher, writer and lawyer, Professor Gall has dedicated himself to the cause of human rights to the benefit of all Canadians. His record of accomplishments stands as a testament to what can be achieved through a commitment to excellence in scholarship and public service. He has been widely honoured for his contributions in the field of human rights. In 1995, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission recognized his work and achievements by awarding him the prestigious Alberta Human Rights Award. He was also the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee and the Alberta Centennial medals. Professor Gall was the 2010 recipient of the Law Society of Alberta and the Canadian Bar Association (Alberta) Distinguished Service Award for Legal Scholarship. In 2001, Professor Gall was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Dr. W. Andy Knight is Chair of the Department of Political Science and Professor of International Relations at the University of Alberta. He serves as Advisory Board Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Welfare of Children. Until recently, he was Director of the Peace and Post Conflict Studies Certificate Programme in the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies (OIS). In March 2007, Dr. Knight was appointed by the Canadian Foreign Minister to the Board of Governors of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and serves on the Executive of that body. He co-edited the international journal, Global Governance, from 2000 to 2005, was Vice Chair of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies (CASIS), the Canadian Consortium for Peace Studies (CCPS), and the Education for Peace Academic and Research Council (EPARC).
Professor Knight has written and edited several books, book chapters and journal articles on various aspects of multilateralism, global governance and peace, and United Nations reform. His most recent books are: Global Politics: Emerging Networks, Trends and Challenges (with Tom Keating) – Oxford University Press, The Ashgate Research Companion to Political Leadership (with Joseph Masciulli & Mikhail A. Molchanov) – Ashgate Publishers, Adapting the United Nations to a Postmodern Era: Lessons Learned – Palgrave/Macmillan publishers, A Changing United Nations – Palgrave Macmillan publishers, and Building Sustainable Peace (with Tom Keating) – United Nations University Press and the University of Alberta Press. On 24 April 2010, Dr. Knight was awarded the National Harry Jerome Trailblazer Award in Toronto.
Salma Lakhani, born in Uganda, went to the University of Manchester after completing her high school studies at the Aga Khan School in Kampala. After completing her post-secondary Honors degree in Clinical Biochemistry, Salma came to Edmonton, Alberta with her husband Zaheer in 1977. Over the last many years, Salma has been a businesswoman, owning and operating her own early childhood education facility locally, and currently manages her husband’s medical practice.
Salma’s contributions to the voluntary sector include the following:
- afterschool teacher for Afghan refugees
- chair of Old Scona Academic High School Parent Council for three years, and president of Friends of Old Scona Academic Society for three years
- member on Capital Campaign Cabinet for Compassion House, a home for out-of-town women undergoing breast cancer treatment in Edmonton
- member of organizing committee for Playing for Life Concert, raising funds for Alberta Cancer Board
- organizer of Fundraising Tea for Kid’s Kottage, held at the Glenrose Hospital
- fundraiser and volunteer with Aga Khan Foundation Canada, raising money for third world development
- during sabbatical in Tanzania, volunteered time teaching reading skills at a local kindergarten
- member of Outreach Team for Lois Hole Hospital for Women
- recently appointed to board of Zebra Foundation
- mentor for girls at NorQuest College
In recognition of her voluntary services, Salma was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005.
Randy Palivoda owns his own company, working as an international trade consultant and as an importer and exporter. After completing a master’s degree in international relations at the University of Alberta, he pursued a career in public service, quickly working his way into senior level positions. He has served in various positions within economic development and trade, and intergovernmental affairs, working for the Government of Alberta, both at home and in the United States.
Over the years, Randy’s interest in international relations has kept him active with committee work for organizations such as the United Nations Association in Canada, the International Human Rights Conference (planning committee member), Economic Development Edmonton, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, and the Edmonton Export Club. He is still actively involved with the Canada/Japan Society and the Edmonton chapter of the Pacific Corridor Enterprise Council.
On behalf of the City of Spruce Grove, Randy serves on the Meridian Foundation Management Board, the Capital Region Parkland Water Services Commission, and the Spruce Grove Library Board. He has served previously on the Assessment Review Board and the Theatre Board.
Christine G Rapp, QC (Secretary)
Christine G. Rapp QC practiced law with the firm of Field LLP for more than 30 years. Her practice involved general commercial work, including corporate, business, real estate, financing, contract and technology transfer matters and a broad variety of work for various institutional clients. Her commitment to human rights arises from a personal interest, but it can be combined with the necessity to encourage Canada’s corporations to develop a greater awareness of and responsibility for human rights issues. Ms. Rapp is currently a semi-retired sole practitioner.
In addition to her involvement with human rights groups and community matters, Ms. Rapp has been very active in various lawyers’ associations including the Law Society of Alberta, Legal Education Society of Alberta, Canadian Bar Association, and Canadian Association of University Solicitors. Ms Rapp is currently a director and Past-President of the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC), a tutor with the Centre for Family Literacy, a member of the Alberta Student Finance Board and an official with Athletics Alberta.
Dr. Sayeed is a former Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. He is a participant in the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administrative consultations regarding the Disability Tax Credit. As a medical doctor and father of a son with disabilities, he has been involved in numerous professional and voluntary activities to advance and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Elexis Schloss started her balancing act in life, working as chief of design for Maclab Developments in Edmonton while running two businesses, first a sweater-making company and then the chocolatier, Truffles Darling. Schloss has devoted herself to charity works, most notably the fundraising effort to get Compassion House built in Edmonton, a place for out-of-town women with breast cancer to reside while they have treatment. Schloss is the founder and president.
Among her many charity works, she is a director of the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Northern Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, an HIV Project in Africa and the Edmonton First Night Festival. She has been involved in fundraising efforts for many of Edmonton’s marquee events, including the Edmonton Grand Prix and Edmonton Fringe Theatre Festival. She is recipient of the Rotary Integrity Award, Alberta Centennial Medal, Queen’s Jubilee Medal, Global Woman of Vision, and 1989 Edmonton Journal Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.
Roxanne Ulanicki
Roxanne is a disability awareness advocate and consultant. She is the Vice-Chairperson for the Executive Committee for iDANCE Edmonton, a Board Member of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Northern Alberta, and the founder of Beyond Barriers Inc. She has presented disability advocacy workshops for the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, the University of Alberta and NAIT. Roxanne worked for the Government of Canada before dedicating herself to the advancement of disability issues through her work with such diverse groups as the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Canada, John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, Employabilities, Alberta Disability Coalition, Spinal Cord Injury Treatment Centre Society, Disabilities without Barriers Society, and the ArtSpace Housing Cooperative. In April 2011, Roxanne was featured as Global Edmonton’s “Woman of Vision” for her work in disability advocacy and integrated dance.
